Picker for stringed musical instruments.



E. J. SOARLETT. PIGKER FOR STRINGED MUSICAL msmnmmn's. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 31, 1908.

9%]; ,565 Patented; May 11, 1909,

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1H: NORRIS PETERS cc., wnsnmcron u c E J. SGARLETT.

PIOKER FOR STRINGED MUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS;

APPLICATION FILED OUT- 31, 1908.

921 $3650 Patented May 11, 1909.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOH MM 6 )hmu, EDWARD two/m n,

AWOHNEYS THE mmms PETERS co., wnsnmcmu, n. c.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

EDWARD .l'. SGARLETT, OF CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA.

PZCKER FOR STBINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. SOARLETT, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, and a resident of Chiekasha, in the county of Grady and State of Oklahoma, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Pickers for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in attachments for stringed musical Distruments, whereby the playing of such instruments is facilitated, without detracting in any manner from the quality of the musical sounds produced thereon, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

The main object of my invention is to provide a device which can be readily attached to an instrument, such as a guitar, or mandolin, and by which the picking of the strings may be done through the simple act of pressing a spring controlled plunger. This results in lessening the labor oi the player, while the eiiects obtained are as pleasing as if accomplished by the ordinary method of plucking the strings with the fingers. Moreover, the use of plungers in playing, enables an unskilled person to produce results which he could only expect to obtain by the ordinar method after considerable practice.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a plan view of an instrument equipped with my attachment; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan View of the operating portion of the attachment with the top re moved; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the means for fastening the attachment to the neck of the instrument; Fig. i is a sectional view of the securing means and the neck of the instrument; is a transverse section through the attachment and a portion oi the instrument; 6 is a plan view oi' the operative portion of the attachment.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 have shown therein a metallic box or casing 1 having a curved top portion 2 for purpose hereinafter explained. i iithin the casing is mounted a series of swinging levers 8, which are pivotally mounted on the pins 4, carried between the forked ends oi the Zshaped supporting arms 5. The latter members are preferably formed integral with the base strip 6, being stamped out and bent into the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 31, 1908.

'Batented May 11, 1909.

Serial No. 180,461.

form shown in Fig. 5, the base strip 6 itself being secured to the bottom of the casing. The strip 6 is at an angle to the arms 5 and is disposed so as to bring the various arms, together with their pivoted levers, cach over its respective string on the instrument.

At the bottom of each of the levers 3 is a plectrum or pick which may be made ol' steel, hard rubber, bone, or any other suitable material, and each plectrum projects through an opening in the bottom of the casing, so as to normally restncar its individual string. The levers 3 have lorked portions provided with pins 8, to which are pivotally attached the stems 9 ol' the plungers 10. The latter are mounted l'or reciprocation in openings in one side 01' the frame 1, and are controlled by the springs 11, which hear at one end against the steps 12 secured to the plungers and at the other to a partition 13 within the casing. The plungers are provided with the buttons 14.

In order to secure the attachment to the neck of an instrument, I provide the device shown in Fig. 3. This consists of the curved clamping pieces 15 and 16, adapted to fit the neck and adjustable with respect to each other. The adjustment is secured by providing a slot 17 in one 01' the members and a screw .8 in the other adapted to enter the slot and to secure the clamping members together by means oi the nut 19. The upper part of each clamping member is provided with an inwardly turned llange 20 and a tubular portion 21, adapted to receive the rods 22, which are attached to one side of the frame 1 The opposite side of the l'rame has a similar tubular member 23 for the reception of the two rods 24 and 25 respectively, which l'orm spring supports [or one end of the attachment.

Having described the various parts ol' the device, its operation may be readily nnderstood. In attaching the device to an instrument such as a guitar, the ch-tmping members 16 and 17 are adjusted to [it the neck or the instrument and the nut 19 is then tightened. The rods 22 are inserted into the respective tubular members and the attachment is adjusted to the right place longitudinally of the instrument. The rods 24 and 25 are then pushed together until the body oi the instrument 26 is clamped, when the rods may be held by set screws 24:. In playing the instrument, the hand rests in the curved part 2 and the lingers work the plungers. This causes the movement of the swinging levers 3 and results in the picking of the strings, the plungers being returned into position by the springs 11. By pressing downwardly with the hand the plectra may be brought into closer relation with the strings and a louder tone results.

It will be seen that I have provided a mechanical device by which the strings may be picked with greater ease than in the ordinary way and have at the same time provided means for varying the intensity of the sound of the instrument.

I claim 1. In a picking attachment for stringed instruments, a plectrum, a spring-controlled. plunger for operating the same, a casing i'or said parts, and spring supports for said casing.

In a picking attachment for stringed instruments, a plectruni, a plunger, a spring for operating the same, a casing for said parts, and llexiblc telescopic supports for said casing constituting clamping members and adapted to permit a movement of the plectrum toward and away from the strings.

3. In a picking attachment for stringed instruments, a plectrum', a spring-controlled plunger for operating the same, a casing for said parts and adjustable clamping members for securing said casing to the neck and body of an instrument, said clamping members also constituting spring supports for said casing, whereby a bodily movement of said casing may be secured.

a. In a picking attachment for stringed instruments, a casing, a series of springcontrolled plungers mounted therein, a series of pivoted plectra disposed within said casing and adapted to be operated by said plungers, adjustable spring supports on each side of said casing, said spring'simportsconstituting means for bringing the whole series of plectra into closer relation with the strings ol the instrument.

EDWARD J SCARLETT. Witnesses:

L. SMITH, T. H. BENNETT. 

